Fence-machine



(Nd Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1'.

M.G.HENLEY. FENCE MAGHINE.

No. 396,279. Patented Jan. 15, 1889.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Shet 2.

M. C. HENLEY. FENGB MACHINE.

No. 396,279. Patented Jan. 15,1889.

N5 Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

M. O. HENLEY. FENCE MAGHINE. 'No. 396,279. Patented Jan. 15,1889.

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(No Model) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

M. G. HENLEY.

FENGE MAGHINE.

No. 396,'2'79. Patented Jan. 15,, 1889'.

n. PETERS- PhomLm m. wuhinmm-gc UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MIOAJAII CHARLES HENLEY, OF RICHMOND, INDIANA.

FENCE-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 396,279, dated January 15, 1889.

Application filed November 12, 1886. Serial No. 218,711- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern; 1

Be it known that I, MICAJAH CHARLES HENLEY, of Richmond, in the county of \Vayne and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fence-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to portable fencemachines of the class in which a series of rotary twisting-heads is employed to twist together double strands of wire, the individual strands of which pass on opposite sides of the pickets, laths, or slats which, with the wires, constitute the fence.

The purpose of the present invention is to produce a light and cheap machine, which may be readily manipulated and moved from place to place by one person,which shall be capable of working over all kinds of ground, whether hilly orlevel, and which shall possess all the advantages of the larger and heavier machines now in use, not only in regard to twisting the wires, but in forcing or beating the pickets to place preparatory to the formation of the twist.

The machine is designed to be used with any suitable tension device for holding the wires taut and paying them out as required to compensate for the amount taken up in twisting, the drawings illustrating the tension apparatus patented to me, dated the 18th day of May, 1886, and numbered 342,010.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspectiie view of my machine, showing it as it appears in operation in connection with the tension apparatus. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the same from the opposite side, but showing the same face of the twisting or weaving device; Fig. 3, a perspective view from the rear side or face of the machine; Figs. 4 and 5, detail views of the clamp; Fig. 6, an enlarged view of the foot or support for the paling;.

7, aview showing the manner of fencing across ditches; Fig. 8, an enlarged sectional view of the mechanism by which the twisterframe is moved lengthwise; Fig. 9, a face view of the twister-head, and Fig. 10 a View illustrating a slight modification.

, In using many of the machines now upon the market the weight of the wires is brought upon the loom or twister, while in others the weight of the loom or twister is placed upon the wires. Both of these plans are objectionable, tending to interfere with the free feeding of the wire and to cause the fence to sag when the loom is sustained by the wires.

In carrying out my invention I provide a frame, A, which may be conveniently and advantageously made of iron pipe or tubing connected by suitable angle-pieces or couplings, into which the ends of the pipes are inserted, though solid rods or bars may of course be used. The pipes and sockets may be threaded and screwed together, or. the threads may be omitted and the ends of the pipes merely inserted and held by set-screws, pins,

or equivalent fasteni'ngs.

.As best seen' in Fig. 1, the frameA consists of two horizontal pipes or rods, a and b, and two upright pipes or rods, 0 and (Z, the four connected by angle-pieces e and f to produce a rectangular frame, as shown. The uprights c and d are each provided with a foot or base, g, upon or in relation to which the upright may be adjusted vertically, either upright being adjusted independently of the other to vary the elevation and the level or inclination of the frame.

WVhen tubing is employed for the standards or uprights, as I prefer should be done, the stem or shank of the foot or base g may extend upward within said standard, thus making a telescopic upright or standard, the two parts of which maybe secured in any desired relation by means of a set-screw, h, or equivalent fastening.

The upper tube or rod, a, constitutes a track or rail upon which the frame of the loom or twister is supported and travels while in operation, and the lower tube or rod serves to brace and strengthen the frame and also to prevent lateral movement or swaying of the loomframe, as will be explained farther on.

At the forward end of frame A, or at that end which extends to or beyond the woven fence, a clamp, B, is provided, by which the frame may be made fast to one of the pickets, and thus held firmly in position. The construction of this clamp may vary somewhat, two slightly-different but equivalent forms being illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5.

In both forms the coupling or angle-piece e is formed with a guide and bearing-plate, i, the nose or end of which being curved, as shown, prevents it from striking or catching against the pickets or palings of the fence in moving the frame along. The face of plate 1' forms a bearing-surface, against which the picket to which the frame is secured may be drawn and clamped by the clamping head or dog which in both forms is provided with a threaded stem, 7c, passing through a lug, Z, on the angle-piece or coupling 6. Upon the threaded stem is, and in front or outside of lug l, is placed a clamping-lever, m, by turning which the clamping-head may be drawn firmly against the rear face of the picket, and thus made to press the picket against bearingplate 1', thereby firmly clamping the picket. This clamping action may be attained by threading that portion of the clamping-lever which encircles the threaded stem 70, as indicated in Fig. 4, or the opposing faces of lug Z and lever m may be provided with inclines n, and a nut, 0, placed upon the stem oustide or back of the lever, as in Fig. 5, under either of which plans the turning of the lever will cause a longitudin al movement of the threaded stem and the desired clamping action.

"-When it is desired to move the frame, the clamp is loosened, the clamping-head is turned up or back and drawn outward away from the picket and toward the lug Z, in which position it will be within the face of bearingplate 2', which plate will then hold the frame away from the pickets and prevent any catching of the clamp against the pickets. IVhen the frame is moved to the desired position, the clamping-head is again thrust out and the frame made fast to another picket, as before. As stated, the upper pipe or rod, a, forms a track to support and guide the loom or twister, which is indicated in the drawings by the letter C. In its general construction and appearance this loom or twister bears considerable resemblance to others hereto fore used, though differing therefrom in various details, as will be pointed out.

The twister or loom consists of two upright side bars, 19 p, (which may be of wood or metal, though I prefer wood,) connected by cross-plates q and which respectively carry the twister heads or disks D and intermediate gear-wheels, E, a pair of smaller gear-wheels or pinions, F and G, being carried by a special plate or casting, H.

One of the twisting wheels or disks D, preferably the one at or aboutthe mid-length of the twister-frame, is provided with bevelteeth, with which the teeth of a bevel-pinion, I, mesh in the manner set forth in Letters Patent No. 340,749, granted to me August 3,

1886, this feature being shown in Fig. 3. The pinion I is mounted upon a short shaft, J, provided with a winch or crank-handle, K, through which motion is imparted to the entire gear-train. The cross-plates q, in which the twister heads or disks are mounted, are

made of proper form to receive the enlarged hubs thereof, as shown.

L indicates an open frame or carriage passing about the twister-frame and carrying at its ends, in front and in rear of said loom or twister frame, two wheels or pulleys, M, grooved to fit and run upon the upper tube or red, a, which forms the track for the carriage.

The frame of loom or twister C is pivoted within and to the carriage-frame, about midway of the height of the former, the pivotal connection being conveniently formed by means of bolts 8. By reason of the pivotal connection the frame of loom or twister C may be tipped or swung to any desired angle within the carriage-frame, which latter travels upon the track or rail a and maintains a given position regardless of that of the twister-frame. This ability to tip to different angles relatively to the carriage and its supporting-track is to enable the twister or loom C to be kept at all times in a vertical position, whether the line of fence being constructed extends over a level surface or up or down hill, thus causing all the pickets of the completed fence to stand vertical.

For the purpose of holding the loom or twister frame at any required angle relatively to the carriage-frame L, a semicircular brace, N, is secured to the frame of twister or loom C, concentrically with the pivots s 5, upon which the frame is supported. This brace passes through an eye or opening in a lateral projection, '1, formed upon the side of a sleeve or collar, u, encircling the pipe or track a, the brace being clamped in said eye at any desired point by a setscrew, 0, passing through thelug t and bearing upon the brace-rod N. The sleeve or eollaru is also furnished with a second set-screw, P, by which it may be made fast to the track or rod'a at anydesired point, which is done when a splice is to be made in the wire.

Instead of the curved brace N, one or more straight braces may be employed, such an arrangement being illustrated in Fig. 10; but the curved brace possesses material advantages over the straight ones, both in the matter of expense and of convenience in use.

As best shown in Fig. 6, the lower crosspiece, q, of the loom or twister frame is formed with two perforated ears or lugs, 1;, through which pass two vertical rods, Q, to the lower end of each of which rods is attached a coiled wire spring, R, the lower ends of which sprin ,are connected by a horizontal plate, S, This The springs often required in fencing across ditches, drains, &c., as illustrated in Fig. 7, for which purpose longer pickets are preferably used.

The rods Q are held at any desired height by means of set-screws w, and may be adjusted to bring the lower ends of the'pickets at whatever distance from the ground is deemed best.

To insure the bringing of the tops of all the pickets to a uniform line, I providev a guide, T, which consists merely of a bar of iron having one end bent over at right angles to its body to form a horizontal stop, beneath which the top of the picket is passed and by which it is held down against the lifting force of spring R. The stem or body of the guard T passes through a lug, a, formed upon the upper cross-plate, q, of the loom or twister, and is held at the required height by means of a set-screw, y, this arrangement affording-means of adjusting the gage as needed.

It is of course apparent that the lugs for carrying the picket-gage and foot or support may be made independent of the plates q, if desired, though the construction shown is deemed better and is cheaper.

U indicates a metal strap or bar secured at its ends to the side of the loom or twister frame and set away therefrom sufficiently to permit the lower pipe or bar, I), of the trackframe A to pass between it and the frame of the loom or twister. The purpose of this strap or baris to prevent the loom or twister frame from swaying or swinging laterally upon its supporting-track while the twisterheads are being operated, and it is for the same reason that the winch or handle is placed at or near the level with the supporting-rail on which the carriage travels.

In machines of this class it is essential, in order to attain perfect results, that some means be provided for receding the loom or twister during the twisting of the wires and at a rate to exactly equal the rate of twisting. If a long and comparativelyloose twist is desired, the loom is moved back a longer distance for each revolution of the twisters than when a short and close twist is desired; or, in other words, upon the relation of the rate of backward movement to that of rotation will depend the character of the twist produced.

To effect the backward movement of the loom or twister, the forward wheel of its carriage L is mounted upon a shaft or axle, .2, which projects beyond the side of the carriage frame and is there furnished with a second wheel, V, and a hub, \V, which latter is notched or recessed, as indicated in Fig. 8.

The two wheels and the notched hub may be keyed or otherwise fixed upon the shaft or axle and all rotate together, or they may be loose thereon, as shown and preferred.

plied to the end of shaft 2, or by any equivalever or hand-piece, Z, which, with the lock.

ing-bolt Y, is urged inward toward hub TV by a spring, Z), which thus tends to keep the bolt seated in a notch of the hub, and thus to keep the parts locked together.

\Vhen it is desired to disconnect the parts,

the hand-piece Z is lifted, which may be done in the act of grasping the rim of the handwheel. The rotation of the shaft or of its two wheels and notched hub may take place with out rotation of the hand-wheel.

The wheel V is represented in the drawings as a grooved wheel or pulley, into the groove of which is wound a rope or band, A, the ends of which band extend to opposite ends of track or pipe (0 and are made fast to the angle-pieces or couplings e. To provide for tightening the rope or band from time to time to compensate for stretching, &c., I attach one end thereof to a threaded stem, 0', which passes through alug on the angle-piece e, and is provided in rear of said lug with a nut, (1'.

Instead of the precise form of looking or clutching device shown in-Fig. 8, any equivalent clutch maybe employed, and instead of a hand-wheel, which is but one form of lever, a straight lever may be employed, in which case of course a locking device would still be necessary to connect and disconnect the lever with and from the hub. The notches may be in the outer face, the end, or within the annular end of the hub \V, as found convenient. The rotation of the wheel V within the rope or band causes the carriage and loom to traverse the track or rail. A sprocket-wheel and chain may of course be substituted for the pulley and rope, or teeth and notches may be formed upon and in the track and track-wheel, or vice versa, the wheels in that case being made fast upon the shaft or axle.

The apparatus being thus constructed is operated in the following manner: Posts are set at suitable distances apart along the line of the intended fence. Frame A is set up at the starting-point, and the loom or twister frame is brought to and secured in a vertical position. The twister heads or disks are formed with two elongated openings or slots, 6, through which the wires pass, these slots extending inward nearly to the center of the disks. This construction permits the wires to be separated and held apart by blocks B or other devices to facilitate the insertion of pickets between the wires; but as soon as the twisting operation begins the wires draw inward toward the center,'where the power is greatest and where the twisting may conveniently be effected most easily. This is a very important consideration, as it materially lessens the power required to perform the twisting and avoids the trouble occasioned by making one continuous slot extending both sides of the center or axis of the disk. The wires for the double strands are made fast to the first post,

carried through. the twister heads or disks,

and past the other posts to the end of the line or to any desired distance, where the wires are secured in the clamps of the tension-jack, as is now done with other machines. A picket is then inserted between the wires of. each double strand, permitted to drop to the foot or supporting plate, and, if necessary, pressed down to pass beneath the top gage. The win eh or handle is then turned to produce the desired twist in the wires, the hand-wheel being turned more or less rapidly, according to the nature of the twist desired. N hen the twist is carried as far as desired, the hand-wheel is turned somewhat farther to give room for readily inserting a fresh picket between the wires in front of the loom or twister. After the picket is inserted, the operator grasps the hand-wheel, raises the locking bolt or dog to release the hand-wheel from the ratchet-hub, and draws the loom suddenly and forcible forward, thus crowding or driving the picket firmly into the bite of the double strands, so v that the twist shall be close to the picket on each side thereof. This is a matter of great importance in. the manufacture of fences of this class, the sudden blow causing the wires to embed themselves in the corners of the pickets, so that they may not thereafter become loose and be displaced, even under the greatest shrinkage of the wood or expansion of the wire,which jointly oceurinhot weather. The wires are separated and held apart by spacing-blocks li in rear of the loom or twister, as usual. These blocks have a slit or notch in each end to receive the wires, and are applied directly in rear of the loom or twister at the commencement of the twisting operation, moved back as the twisting proceeds, and kept upon or between the wires until the twisting is finished. The splicing of the wires is performed in the same manner as in the ease of the Monarch fence-machine, manufactured under Letters Patent granted to Sam Vatson, dated July 21, 1885, and numberec 322,872, now in the market, and need not be here explained in detail; but in performing said operation it is necessary to secure the loom or twister frame against travel along its track. It is for this purpose that the set-screw P is provided, said screw clamping the sleeve to firmly to the rod or track a, and thereby holding the loom against movement.

Eccentric clamps may obviously be substituted for set-screws throughout the machine,

they being the well-known equivalents of each other.

\Vhen the loom or twister weaves the fence back to the rear en d of frame A, a foot-piece,f', which passes through ears or lugs g on the cross-piece q, is let down to the ground and clamped by a set-screw, lb. The foot of the forward end of the frame is then raised, and the frame A is drawn backward through the loom or twister frame, a lug or projection, '2", on the frame L acting as a rest or support upon which rod or pipe to slides. If the foot f be lowered sufficiently, there will be no oecasion to disturb those at the end of frame A.

The adjustable foot or base g may be used at one end only of the frame A, though I prefer to use one at each end.

I am aware that it has been proposed to suspend a twister frame or loom from a rod or track above it, the frame being free to swing upon the axle of the roller traversing the rod or track; and I am likewise aware twister frames or looms have been arranged to travel upon a track placed directly upon the ground, being myself engaged in the manufacture of a machine of this latter type. Neither of these former plans gives the satisfactory results attained by my present invention-the first because of side strain brought upon the wires in operating the twistingwheels and the difficulty of combining therewith devices for positively moving the loom or twister back and forth upon the track or rail the latter plan being open to the objecjeetion that the bed or track must of necessity have a smooth and level surface to stand upon. My frame, on the contrary, may be used upon any surface, however uneven or irregular, and being hung upon pivots at or near its mid-length may be set quickly, easily, and with little movement to any position renderednecessary by the lay of the land. By pivoting the frame at or about its middle to a traveling carriage and providing a track for the carriage with end supports only I am enabled to work with an ease, convenience, and uniformity hitherto unknown.

I am also aware that a twister has been proposed to be made with enlarged openings to permit splices and other entanglements to pass through, and that it has also been proposed to-construct a twister plate or wheel with radial slots extending from near the center to and through the periphery of the wheel. The first of these plans permits a considerable amount of play or motion of the disks in either direction before the sides of the openings bear against the wires, and the second is open to the objection that it un duly weakens the twister-head and that the wires are liable to slip out of the slots. My plan differs from these in that the slots have parallel side walls separated far enough only to permit the free passage of the wires, and that they are closed at both ends. From this construction it follows that there can be no appreciable lost motion of the disks in reversing, that the wires of each double strand will be held in the same position, thus facilitatng the insertion of pickets between the two wires of the respective double strands, and that the wires cannot escape from and the disks are not weakened by the slots extending through the periphery. I therefore do not claim the construction thus recited; but I believe myself to be the inventor of improve IIO ments upon the sai'ne at once novel and important.

Having thus described my invention,what I claim is- 1. The herein-described fence-weaving apparatus, consisting of frame A, having an elevated track or rail, a, and a loom or twister frame pivotally supported at or about its middle to tip forward and backward upon the track or railand arranged to traverse the same, substantially as set forth.

2. In combination with a supporting-frame having an elevated track or rail, a pivotallysupported loom or twister provided with wheels or pulleys at or about its mid-length to rest upon the track or rail and carry the loom or twister, said loom or twister being adapted to be tipped forward and backward.

3. In combination with a loom or twister frame provided with supporting-wheels at or near its mid-length, a supporting-frame provided with an elevated track or rail, said track or rail passing through the 100111 or twister and beneath the supporting-wheels thereof.

4. In combination with a supporting-frame provided with an elevated rail or track, a

carriage mounted and movable upon said track, and a loom or twister frame pivoted at or about its mid-length to the carriage, whereby it is adapted to be tipped to and to stand at any desired inclination.

5. In combination with a supporting-frame provided with an elevated track or rail, a carriage mounted and movable upon said track, a loom or twister frame pivotally attached at or about its mid-length to said carriage, a brace for holding the loom-frame at any desired angle to the carriage and track, and a clamping device bearing upon and serving to hold the brace.

6. In combination with a supporting-frame having upper track, a, and lower rod or brace, b, a loom or twister frame mounted upon the track and provided with a strap or bar to hold the frame to the lower brace or rod and prevent lateral movement of said frame.

7. In combination with a supporting-frame having a track or bar, a, a carriage mounted and movable upon said track, a loom or twister frame pivotally attached to said carriage, a sleeve or block movable upon the track, a brace extending from the loom or twister frame to the block, and a clamping device, substantially as shown and described, for clamping the brace and block together to hold the loom at any desired angle to its track.

8. In combination with a supporting-frame having a track or rail, a carriage mounted and movable upon said frame, a loom or twister pivotally attached to said carriage, a sleeve movable along the track, a brace extending from the loom or twister to the sleeve, and a set-screw or clamping device adapted to clamp the sleeve to the track, whereby the loom may be held stationary at any desired point 011 the track.

9. In combination with frame A, having track or rod a, and with a loom or twister frame carried thereby, a clamp, B, attached to the frame and serving to secure the frame to a picket of the fence.

10. I11 combination with a loom or twist-er, a supporting-frame consisting of longitudinal rods or bars a and b, uprights c and d, and a clamping device consisting of a curved bearing-plate, '1', carried by the frame, a lug, Z, in rear of said plate, a threaded stem, is, passing through said lug, a clamping-head,j, carried by said stem, and a clamping-lever applied to the stem and serving to draw the head toward plate t.

11. The combination, with a supportingframe having a trackor rail, of a loom or twister mounted upon and arranged to traverse the rail, said frame being provided at either or both ends with an adjustable foot, whereby the inclination of the track or rail may be varied.

12. In combination with track a, carriage L M, loom or twister O, pivotally attached to said carriage, sleeve a, mounted upon track a, curved brace N, attached to the loom or twister and passing through an eye of said sleeve, and a set-screw or clamping device, 0, serving to bind the brace to the sleeve.

13. In combination with frame A, having elevated track a, loom or twister 0, provided with cross-plates q r, twister heads or disks D, intermediate gear-wheels, E, and small pinions F G, the latter serving to connect the other gear-wheels and disks of the series but affording space for the passage of track a through the loom or twister frame.

14. In combination with a supporting-frame having an elevated track, a, a loom or twister frame provided with a lug, c", and an adjustable foot-piece, f, whereby the frame is adapted to be supported upon its foot and to form a support for the frame as the latter is moved back.

15. In combination with a loom or twister frame for fence-weaving, a yielding foot or support carried thereby to support the lower end of the picket.

16. In combination with a fence loom or twister frame, a gage at or near the upper end thereof to control the height of the picket, and a yielding foot or support at or near the lower end of the loom to support the base of a picket, the yielding foot permitting pickets of more than the prescribed length to be dropped down to bring their heads beneath the top gage.

17. In combination with a loom or twister frame, a foot rest or support adapted to be swung or pressed back to permit the foot of a picket to pass below it.

18. In combination with a loom or twister provided with lugs 12, a foot or support for pickets, consisting of stems or rods Q, springs 'R, plate S, and clamping devices, substantially as described and shown, for securing the rods Q at any desired height.

19. In combination with a supporting frame or track, and with a band extending from end to end thereof, a loom or twister frame mounted upon said track, a wheel carried by said loom or frame and engaging with the band, and a lever applied to said wheel or its shaft and serving to rotate the same, and thereby to move the twister-frame along the track.

20. In combination with a frame having an elevated track, a, a carriage, L, mounted thereon, a loom or twister, 0, supported by said carriage, a shaft, z, provided with wheel M, to run upon the track, a band running from end to end of the frame, a wheel, V, engaging with said ban (1, and a hand wheel or lever by which to rotate the wheel V to move the carriage and twister,

21. In combination with a frame having a track, a, a carriage, L, provided with wheels M to run upon the track, a loom or twister supported by said carriage, a shaft, 2, extending from the side of the carriage, a bandwheel, V, and a notched hub, XV, mounted upon said shaft, a band extendin lengthwise of frame A and engaging with the band-wheel V, and a hand wheel or lever provided with a locking-dog, whereby it may be connected with or disconnected from the notched hub at will.

22. The combination, substantially as set forth, of a supporting-frame provided with a track, a carriage having wheels mounted upon said track, a loom or twister supported by said carriage, a shaft, 2, projecting from the side of the carriage, a band-wheel, V, and notched hub NV, mounted upon said shaft, a hand-wheel, X, mounted upon the shaft and provided with bolt Y to engage with hub V, hand-piece Z, connected with and serving to operate the bolt, and a band extending lengthwise of frame A and in engagement with band-wheel V, whereby the loom may be moved back and forth regularly and gradually or suddenly, as desired.

23. In combination with a supporting-frame having track a, carriage L M, mounted thereon an d provided with ban d-wheel V, and band A, attached permanently to frame A at one end and at the other end to an adjustable stem, 0.

MICAJAH CHARLES HENLEY.

\Vitnesses:

I. O. DOAN, MARY Z. DOAN. 

